Australia was a founding member of the United Nations (UN) in 1945, and has been actively engaged in the organisation since then, including in peacekeeping operations. Australia’s core interests in the UN’s agenda are in areas such as international security and disarmament, environment, human rights, development assistance and the technical agencies dealing with agriculture, refugees and international nuclear safeguards. Australia’s participation in the UN system is focused on achieving practical, constructive outcomes that support the security and prosperity of Australia and Australians.

Australia supports moves to reform the UN to ensure that the UN system can respond effectively to changing global circumstances and deliver better outcomes more efficiently to member states and their people. To this end Australia has contributed to a high-level review panel on threats, challenges and change, established by the UN Secretary-General.